Double-action window washer



Feb. l, 1955 F. R. scHAEFER DouBLEAcTIoN wINnow WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15 1950 y INVENTOR.

fam/fwn Scene-Ff@ Mew/*Mw ATTO RN E'YS.

Febl 1955 F. R. scHAEFER DouBLE-ACTION wINnow WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13., 195o INVENTOR. /ira/NA/va fcfmejrf?,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent DOUBLE-ACTION WINDOW WASHER Ferdinand R. Schaefer, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,823

9 Claims. (Cl. 15-256) My invention relates to a device for washing windows and the like and especially to that type of device whlch may be clamped to a Window frame and both sides .of the window simultaneously and completely cleaned w1th only one setting of the device being necessary.

It is an object of my invention to provide novel structure by means of which a pair of cleaning pads may be made to travel over the full area of the Window being washed with only a minimum amount of effort on the part of the user being necessitated.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means by which the user may so manipulate the cleaning pads as to move them from one pane to another when windows formed of multiple panes are being washed.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for resiliently mounting the cleaning pads on their respective operating levers.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide novel bearing means from which the superstructure comprising the operating levers and linkage is mounted.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art during the course of the following description with reference to the attached drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a device built according to my invention,

Figure 2 is a view taken from the left side of Figure l with parts in elevation and parts in section,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the operating arms employed in my invention, with parts in elevation and parts in section, and

Figure 6 is a view generally similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the device attached to a window frame.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 it will be observed that my device comprises a bracket 10 to which there is welded or otherwise suitably xed a bearing 11. This bearing comprises a ring or sleeve. Just nicely tting within this sleeve is another ring or sleeve 12, the sleeve 12 being rotatable within the sleeve 11. The bearing sleeve 11 is provided with annular flanges 13 adapted to retain the sleeve 12 therewithin. Fixed within the sleeve 12 is a pin 14 and it is from this pin that the remaining structure is supported. The bracket 10 is provided with clamps 15 by means of which my device may be fastened to the bottom portion of a window or the side portionl of a door.

Pivotally mounted on the pin 14 are a pair of bent levers 16 and 17. From one end of the lever 16 I have pivotally secured a member 18. From the corresponding end of lever 17 I have pivotally secured a member 19 in similar manner. A rod 20 is lixed in the member 18 as indicated at 20a and a rod 21 is fixed in the member 19. While I have shown the members 18-20 and members 19-21 as being two members rigidly fastened together, it is to be understood that such members could be formed integral with one another. At the other end of the bent lever 16 I have iixed a rod 22 and at the corresponding end of the lever 17 I have fixed a similar rod 23. It is to be understood that it is within the scope of my invention to form the lever 16 and rod 22 of one piece as is also the case with lever 17 and its rod 23. The juncture between rod 22 and lever 16 is indicated ricc at 22a. At their other ends the rods 20, 21, 22 and 23 terminate in members 24, 25, 26 and 27 respectively. These members too could be formed integral with their respective rods.

Each of the members 24 and 27 is pivotally connected to a wiping arm 28 while each of the members 25 and 26 is pivotally connected to a wiping arm 29. At their other ends each of the arms 28 and 29 is provided with a bearing 30 and 31 respectively. In each of these bearings 30 and 31 I have provided a pin 32 and a spring 33 as is best seen in Figure 5. A wiping plate 34 is mounted within the end of bearing 30 by means of an extension 35 carrying a ball 36. The bearing 30 is crimped over in order to maintain the ball 36 therewithin and the spring 33 is positioned between this ball and the pin 32. In this manner the individual wiping plates are resiliently mounted on the ends of their respective wiping arms. Wiping plate 38 is similarly mounted.

As is also best seen in Figure 5, the wiping arm 28 is provided with an upper portion 28a which is pivotally mounted thereto as indicated at 39. Within the upper portion 28a I have mounted a latch member 40 and a spring 41 located between one end of the latch 40 and a pin 42 xed in the upper member 28a. The member 28a is slotted to receive a pin 43 which extends therethrough and is xed in the latch member 40. At its lower end the latch is provided with a catch 44 adapted to properly engage a catch 45 formed on the upper end of the wiping arm 28 proper. The spring 41 normally maintains the catches 44 and 45 in engagement with one another. By this arrangement the upper portion 28u of the arm 28 may be moved from the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 to that shown in broken lines in the same figure as desired.

In Figure 4 I have shown the means by which I pivotally mount the member 18 at the lower end of the bent lever 16. Such pivotal connection comprises a bolt 46 having a threaded portion 47 and an enlarged smooth portion 48. When in position the bolt 46 serves to keep the members 13 and 16 in close engagement at the same time furnishing the member 18 with a suitable pivot (the surface 48). As shown in Figure 5 it is contemplated that the wiping plates be provided with suitable padding such as cloth, sponge rubber and the like.

The operation of my device is as follows. By means of the bracket 10 and clamp 15 the device is secured to the central portion of the lowermost part 49 of a window 5i) desired to be washed. While so securing the device, the arm 28 will be broken as seen in Figure 5 in order to facilitate the handling of the device. After the device has been properly clamped in position the arm 28a will be brought to such position that the catches 44 and 45 will lock with one another. ln this position the wiping plates 34 and 38, with their respective paddings, are brought into firm contact with the window pane 50. Good wiping action is obtained by reason of the resilient mounting of these plates on their respective wiping arms. The plates 34 and 38 can be made to travel the full width of the pane and the full length by the operator properly manipulating the arms 28 and 29. As is shown in Figure l in dotted lines, the arms 28 and 29 can be moved from side to side by reason of the fact that they are supported from the pin 14 which is fixed in the sleeve 12, this sleeve being rotatable within the sleeve 11 as above described. As shown in Figure 2 in dotted lines vertical movement of the plates 34 and 38 is obtained simply by the operators urging the arms 28 and 29 downwardly or upwardly as desired. By these two movements, that is the rotatable movement of sleeve 12 within sleeve 11 and the collapsible action among members 28, 29 and 24 to 27, the operator is able to bring the wiping plates to any desired position of the window pane 50.

It is to be understood that my device may also be successfully used on doors or the like in which case the device will be clamped to the side of the door instead of the bottom of the window as shown in Figure 6. The wiping action will still be the same except that the actions will be reversed, that is vertical movement of the wipers 34 and 38 will be obtained due to rotation of the sleeve 12 within the sleeve 11 and lateral movement of these wipers will be obtained by reason of the collapsing action just described.

It the window being washed is made up of a plurality of small panes having ridge-like divisions separating one from another, my device may still be successfully employed. The device will again be fixed to the window or door in the manner just described. When it is desired to pass from one pane to another, the operator simply manipulates the pin 43 so as to bring the latch members 44 and 45 out of contact with one another. The upper arms 28a will then be bent to a position approximating that shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. Then by pressing the arm 28 proper towards the pane, the wiper plate 38 will also be moved away from the pane and over the projecting ridge. When the arm 28 proper is pulled toward the operator and the extension 28a snapped into place, both padded wiper plates will again be in contact with the window glass and the next pane may be cleaned as above described. In this way one may clean a complete window from one setting of the device even though the window may be formed of a plurality of panes separated by projecting ridges.

It is to be understood that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and although I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention I do not intend to be limited by its structure except insofar as that structure is set forth in the subjoined claims. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and what I desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for cleaning windows and the like, a bearing, a sleeve rotatable in said bearing, a pin fixed in said sleeve at right angles to the axis of said sleeve, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said pin, each said lever extending from both ends of said sleeve, a pair of wiping arms, said arms being disposed at opposite ends of said sleeve, means connecting each of said arms with both of said levers whereby motion of one of said wiping arms transversely to the axis of the pin transmits a corresponding motion to the other of said wiping arms, said connecting means in each instance extending from one end of a said arm to the ends of said levers extending from that end of the sleeve nearest said arm, a wiping member secured to the other end of each of said arms, and said means comprising a first member pivotally connected to an end of one of said levers and to an end of one of said wiping arms, and a second member pivotally connected to the end of the other of said levers at the opposite end of the sleeve and to the corresponding end of the other of said wiping arms.

2. The device of claim 1 including a bracket and clamp fixed to said bearing.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said means pivotally connects the other end of each of said levers to a said wiping arm.

4. In a device for cleaning windows and the like, a bearing sleeve, a bracket and clamp fixed to the exterior of said bearing sleeve, a second sleeve slidably rotatably mounted within said bearing sleeve, a pin fixed in said second sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sleeves, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said pin at right angles thereto, a pair of wiping arms, a first member pivotally connected to one end of one of said levers and to one end of one of said wiping arms, a second member pivotally connected to the end of the other of said levers at the opposite ends of said sleeve and to the corresponding end of the other of said wiping arms, the other end of each of said levers being pivotally connected to a said wiping arm near its first described pivotal connection, and a pair of wiping members, one fixed to the other end of each of said wiping arms.

5. In a device for cleaning windows and the llke, a

bearing sleeve, a second sleeve rotatably slidably mounted within said bearing sleeve, a pin fixed in said second sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sleeves, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said pin at right angles thereto, a pair of wiping arms, linkage connecting said levers with said wiping arms, a pair of wiping plates, and resilient means for securing a said plate to a said arm, said means comprising a bearing fixed to said arm, an extension on said plate, a ball fixed to said extension and resting in said bearing, and spring means in said bearing acting against said ball.

6. In a device for cleaning windows and the like, a bearing sleeve, a second sleeve rotatably slidably mounted within said bearing sleeve, a pin fixed in said second sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sleeves, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said pin at right angles thereto, a pair of wiping arms, linkage connecting said levers with said wiping arms, and a pair of wiping members, one secured to each of said arms, one of said arms comprising two portions pivotally fastened together and provided with means whereby said portions are moved relative to one another about their pivot as desired.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said last mentioned means comprises a latch member slidably mounted within one of said arm portions, a pin fixed to said latch member and extending through a slot provided in said one arm portion, and a spring in said one arm portion abuting against said latch member, said latch member and the other of said arm portions having mating parts.

8. A device for cleaning windows and the like comprising a bearing sleeve, a second sleeve rotatably slidably mounted within said bearing sleeve, a pin fixed within said second sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sleeves, a pair of crossed levers pivotally mounted on said pin, a pair of wiping arms, the upper end of each of said crossed levers being pivotally connected to one end of one of said arms, the lower end of each of said crossed members being pivotally connected to a link which is pivotally connected to one of said arms near the connection of said arm and lever, each of said links being substantially parallel to the lever to which it is not connected so that said links and levers diverge from a vertical plane passed through the axis of said pin, said arms converging toward said vertical plane, and a pair of wiping members, one mounted on the other end of each of said arms so that when the device is positioned with respect to a window in such manner that the window coincides with said vertical plane one of said wiping members will contact either side of said Window.

9. In a device for cleaning windows and the like, a bearing, a sleeve rotatable in said bearing, a pin fixed in said sleeve at right angles to the axis of said sleeve, a lever pivotally mounted on said pin, said lever extending from both ends of said sleeve, a pair of wiping arms, means pivotally connected to one end of each of said wiping arms and to the corresponding end of said lever for transmitting motion of one of said wiping arms about the axis of the rotatable sleeve to the other of said wiping arms, and a wiping member secured to the other end of each of said arms.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 129,205 Bell July 16, 1872 487,888 Kolb Dec. 13, 1892 924,685 Minier June 15, 1909 1,167,935 Rudolph Jan. 11, 1916 1,289,638 Bruckner Dec. 31, 1918 1,382,000 Korach June 2l, 1921 

